OpenAI to make London its biggest research hub outside US

FILE PHOTO: FILE PHOTO: Illustration shows OpenAI logo · Reuters

Reuters

Thu, February 26, 2026 at 11:00 PM GMT+9 1 min read

LONDON, Feb 26 (Reuters) - ChatGPT maker OpenAI said on Thursday that it would make London ‌its largest research hub outside the United ‌States, citing Britain’s technology ecosystem as an ideal environment to invest ​in and develop new artificial intelligence systems.

The move feeds into Britain’s push to cast itself as an “AI superpower” and a home for cutting-edge research at a ‌time when governments ⁠are vying for investment from major model developers.

Mark Chen, OpenAI’s research chief, said ⁠the country’s mix of talent, leading universities and globally respected scientific institutions gives it leverage in a ​sector governments ​worldwide view as strategically ​important.

Technology minister Liz Kendall ‌said OpenAI’s expansion in London was a “huge vote of confidence.”

“It also reaffirms the UK’s global leadership as the place to pursue AI innovation that is both safe and transformative,” Kendall said in a statement.

OpenAI ‌did not set out specific ​details on the plan, such ​as the size ​of any investment or the number of ‌jobs it would involve.

The ​company, whose European ​headquarters are in Dublin, opened its first international office in London in 2023, with its ​teams working on ‌the software and infrastructure needed to develop ​and run its AI models.

(Reporting by Sam Tabahriti; ​editing by William James)

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